Nigeria Bans Open Cattle Grazing Nationwide.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially abolished open grazing of cattle across the country with immediate effect.
The announcement was made in Yola, Adamawa State, by the Minister of Livestock Development, Mallam Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the inaugural National Council on Livestock Development.
Speaking at the event, the Minister declared that open grazing is now a punishable offence, stating that it has caused unnecessary crises and needless loss of lives over the years.
“It is now an offence to be caught grazing cattle openly. All herders are strongly encouraged to embrace ranching, which is safer, more modern, and will produce healthier and fatter cattle for better business,” Maiha said.
He revealed that since the Presidential initiative to revitalise the livestock sector began, the ministry is determined to position it as Nigeria’s next biggest revenue earner after oil and gas. The sector is projected to generate $74 billion in the next five years, with over $14 billion already earned.
The Minister was warmly received by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who was represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta George. The Governor described Adamawa as the home of livestock in Nigeria and commended the Minister for choosing the state to host the historic council meeting.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock, Senator Musa Mustapha, stated that livestock will soon overtake oil as the nation’s top revenue source, assuring that the Senate is ready to support a robust, business-oriented budget for the ministry.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock, Hon. Tasir Olawale Raji, praised the ministry’s bold step in banning open grazing, describing the farmer-herder clashes as unnecessary conflicts that should have been resolved long ago.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, thanked investors who have embraced ranching, particularly mentioning Dan Lawan Adamawa and Alhaji Sadik Daware.
The Minister also commended the Adamawa Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) for achieving significant milestones in the past 12 years.
The ban on open grazing is seen as a major policy shift aimed at ending decades of farmer-herder conflicts and modernising Nigeria’s livestock industry.
